Benefits of Interoceptive Awareness: A Correlational Study of the Distinct Sport Education Program among Slovak University Students

Ivan Uher,Erika Chovanová,Ján Pivovarník,Mária Majherová

doi:10.3390/su14031607

Ivan Uher, Erika Chovanová + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031607

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Abstract

This study aims to determine the formation of cognitive abilities and self-assessment among students of the special physical training in security forces program. A total of 96 students aged 18 to 24 years completed 12 close-ended questions, i.e., 6 knowledge awareness (KA) and 6 ideomotor awareness questions (IA). The 13th question was aimed at self-assessment of their own answers. Based on the Dunning–Kruger effect, comparing all positive answers to KA and IA questions with the self-assessment answer showed that 51% of first-year students provided positive answers with a 50% self-assessment rate, indicating a balanced self-assessment. The percentage of positive answers for the second-year students totaled 51%, with a 70% self-assessment rate, indicating overassessment. The percentage of positive answers totaled 82% for the third-year students, with a 62% self-assessment rate, indicating underassessment. To help students to become proficient requires balancing theory and experience, classroom and practice, where they incorporate a “student-as-instructor” modality to the entire curriculum, not only to the limited selected courses of the special forces training. Using the active learning technique helps students to gain exposure to a stimulating and interactive environment. We stress a teaching modality that includes learning by doing and having the student act as a teacher. In this role, participants maximize their learning through interoceptive awareness, feeling, and applying course material in a more comprehensively factual setting.

Highlights

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutralOverestimating and underestimating one’s abilities in security forces may negatively affect practical activities, which rely on perceiving one’s abilities under conditions of objective reality
This study points to the correlation and integration of theoretical and practical variables, and their position in self-assessment and decision-making processes that can improve overall performance
Those enrolled in the three-year bachelor’s degree program of special physical training in security forces participated in this study from September 2020 to June 2021

Summary

Introduction

Overestimating and underestimating one’s abilities in security forces may negatively affect practical activities, which rely on perceiving one’s abilities under conditions of objective reality. Knowledge, and training, individuals who enter a profession may fail to carry out their competencies. The practice has shown that physically unfit individuals often cannot assess their performance levels [1], which may be associated with a lack of knowledge and experience, preventing realistic self-evaluations [2]. Specific reality may affect the prediction, planning, and assessment of the critical situations that members of security forces experience. Experience, empathy, suppressed emotionality, critical thinking, practical motor skills using the moment of empathy, and the perception of actual presence, own body and mind may substantially affect an individual’s with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations

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